A Game's Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 107
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A Game's Opportunity Becomes Reality Episode 107
27. Civil War or a Skit? (4)
Not long after the Second Prince infiltrated the Royal Palace with his strike force members.
"Damn it, where did the leak come from? The Crown Prince fled before we even began."
The nobles of the Second Prince's faction, including myself, had gathered at Marquis Hamington's Heaven-Piercing Fortress, which served as both flagship and command center, waiting for news from the strike force but when word came that the Crown Prince had vanished, everyone was thrown into great turmoil.
From their perspective, capturing the Crown Prince was the easiest solution.
But now that had become impossible, leaving them no choice but to fall back on the second plan.
If capturing the Crown Prince was Plan A to end the struggle for the throne with as little bloodshed as possible then getting the King into their hands was Plan B.
"If the Crown Prince fled, then surely His Majesty the King has fled as well?"
"If that happens, things are going to get complicated."
"We'll have no choice but to wage a full-scale war."
In the end, a struggle for the throne is a fight over justification.
If the Crown Prince were eliminated, even that justification would become unnecessary but if a confrontation with the Crown Prince became unavoidable, then the King absolutely had to be secured.
If they ended up at war with the Crown Prince without even securing the King, they would be nothing more than rebels.
That was why everyone wore anxious expressions.
"Oh! Is that so?"
How long did that silence stretch on?
Marquis Hamington, the commander, who had a encrypted communicator shaped like a wireless earpiece fitted to his ear, received a call from a strike force member and his face lit up.
Without a word, it was clear that Plan B had succeeded.
"His Highness our prince has His Majesty in his custody!"
And as Marquis Hamington's confirmation followed, the nobles of the Second Prince's army gathered in the command center erupted in cheers.
"We did it!"
"Now we just need to persuade His Majesty the King to strip the First Prince of his title as Crown Prince!"
"Do we even need to persuade him? His Majesty is in our hands we can simply make the proclamation as we see fit! As of this moment, consider the title of Crown Prince to refer to our Lord Luke!"
"Oh, now that you mention it, that's right."
I let out a hollow laugh at the people acting as if the succession war was already over.
Who knows what kind of situation might unfold from here on...
"Commander, this is no time for celebration. Let's move the troops to the capital at once. Once the Crown Prince learns we've secured His Majesty the King, he'll surely send a relief force."
"Yes, you're right."
Marquis Hamington readily followed Marquis Trenton's lead and nodded.
"I order the entire army! As of this moment, break stealth and reveal our presence! Destination: Lionel, the kingdom's capital! Our role is to protect His Majesty the King and his successor, His Highness Luke!"
When a massive Heaven-Piercing Fortress moves, hoping the enemy won't notice is nothing but wishful thinking.
That was why the Second Prince's faction's gathering was already an open secret to the Crown Prince's faction.
Thus, the armies of the nobles supporting the Crown Prince had also been swiftly assembled and were converging near the capital.
Both sides were roughly the same distance from the capital, so whoever moved first would take the Royal Palace.
Of course, given the strength of the royalist Capital Defense Force, getting close wouldn't be easy but since they were the ones protecting the King, their master, they would be able to enter without much obstruction.
'Just as planned.'
I gazed at the command center brimming with anticipation, covering my mouth with my hand and smiling with satisfaction.
"What, is something on your mind?"
But my demeanor must have seemed like I was lost in thought, because Marquis Hamington asked.
In response, I waved my hand and brushed it off vaguely.
"I was just surprised that His Highness the Crown Prince fled alone. I didn't know he was the type to put himself before his own father."
At my words, he nodded as if in agreement.
"Well, it just goes to show how desperate he was. That's just how humans are when faced with mortal danger."
"I suppose so."
He was in a good mood, patting my shoulder amiably in a way he normally never did.
For the record, with betrayal already in the works, I felt not a shred of guilt toward him.
[Relationship: Pragmatic / Temporary Alliance]
[Status: Hostility / Relief]
It was because I had confirmed through the Myriad Mirror that Marquis Hamington and the Second Prince I had encountered yesterday were showing murderous intent toward me.
These people plan to use me thoroughly in the war and then dispose of me once their business is done.
"Now, to stop the First Prince's desperate struggles, we'll need your and Sir Klein's contributions. Can I trust you?"
"Just leave it to me."
Even though I knew their hidden intentions, I acted as warmly as possible.
That way, the shock when I hit them from behind would be all the greater.
"Hello there?"
"L-Lord Marquis Lawrence?"
And so, I approached a figure who had been treating me like a stranger, as coldly as a cow staring at a chicken, and spoke to him amiably.
"Let's drop the hostility now. How long do you intend to keep up that cold demeanor?"
"I don't know what you mean."
The person I had approached was none other than the Marquis of Ereiven.
The guardian and biological father of Anna, my stepmother who had tried to kill me on numerous occasions.
He had declined after losing four-tenths of his forces to my planned suicide attack, but he was still a fairly important figure in the Second Prince's faction.
The Marquis of Ereiven looked tense, apparently never having expected that I, his virtual sworn enemy, would come talk to him.
That was only natural, as now I surpassed him not just in status but also in the size of my forces.
"We're on the same side now, so let's forget the past. I'd rather not have friendly fire flying at my back."
"Who would do such a thing!"
Marquis Hamington, approving of my behavior, stepped in like a teacher breaking up a student fight.
"It's not good for leaders within the same faction to hold grudges. How about the two of you shake off past feelings and paint a future together?"
At Commander Marquis Hamington's mediation, Marquis of Ereiven wore a reluctant expression, but with so many eyes watching, he couldn't ignore it and nodded in agreement for the time being.
I likewise approached him with a smile and offered a handshake, and the command center became positively harmonious the kind of atmosphere you'd expect at a victory celebration.
Following the Marquis of Ereiven, I went around and spoke to every figure I could call a sworn enemy.
"Lord Marquis Caskbell?"
"Haha... I never expected Lord Marquis Lawrence to speak to me first."
"Count Brooks?"
"Y-You were looking for me? Lord Marquis Lawrence."
From Marquis Caskbell, the father of Isabella the leader of the school gang that had bullied me mercilessly as if to kill me to Count Brooks, the father of Filo, Isabella's lackey and partner.
It looked as if I were reconciling with them with the future in mind.
Of course, I wasn't reconciling I was merely taking note of their positions.
"By the way, has there been no further contact from the strike force?"
Just how many minutes did that joyful news and harmonious atmosphere last?
The gazes of those curious about the Royal Palace turned to Marquis Hamington and the communications officer, who had the encrypted communication network linked to the strike force.
The two of them then attempted to contact the strike force members.
"Huh?"
"What's the matter?"
"Communications are being jammed..."
With communications dead, the situation at the Royal Palace was unknowable.
Communications jamming is similar to teleportation blocking, but it's not a technique used on every battlefield.
The reason is that this world's communication equipment uses mana in the air as a signal, so once communications jamming magic is cast, everyone friend and foe alike loses communication capability.
"Are you saying even the encryption equipment is blocked?"
"Encryption equipment is meant to prevent wiretapping, not to punch through jamming to make contact."
"Then we're in trouble."
"I suspect the First Prince is up to something in the middle of all this."
For the record, I too had to be considerably taken aback by the communications jamming.
The reason was that this wasn't part of the plan.
After all, I'd need to be able to contact the other side to time my betrayal, wouldn't I?
Not just myself and Marquis Trenton, who had our own hidden agendas, but everyone in the command center was thrown into confusion.
'Something's gone wrong.'
And so I could tell that an unexpected problem had arisen at the Royal Palace.
I attempted to contact Arcia through Telepathy Magic.
But the telepathy didn't go through either.
That was only natural, since communication magic is itself rooted in telepathy.
'Surely not... Did he really appear? The King's hidden trump card?'
Otherwise, I couldn't understand the current situation.
After all, this only heightened both sides' confusion and raised their wariness.
But if someone has pulled out a card they were supposed to keep hidden, the story changes.
'Blacky!'
In my case, even if telepathy and communications were blocked, I had a way to check on Arcia's situation.
That's because I'd kept Black Eagle attached to Arcia's side.
Black Eagle, possessing both a vision-sharing skill and a magic-sharing skill, is in itself like a reconnaissance plane and fighter jet combined.
Using the magic-sharing skill, I employed clairvoyance, and with the vision-sharing skill, I surveyed the King's office.
'Surely not... he really existed?'
And I could clearly observe what was happening inside.
A black knight protecting the King while slaughtering the raiding party members.
Although I couldn't utilize the Myriad Mirror's functions while observing the enemy through vision-sharing, I could still easily gauge the opponent's level through Sword Aura without needing to use the Myriad Mirror.
'Arcia? She's safe. Thank goodness.'
I landed Black Eagle on the balcony of the chaotic office to draw Arcia's attention.
Quick-witted Arcia soon met Black Eagle's gaze.
There was no need to write messages with magic or attempt conversation.
Simply conveying that I understood her situation was enough for Arcia to feel at ease and focus on her own tasks.
'If it gets dangerous, surrender immediately.'
Arcia will operate based on this rule we established earlier.
Now it was my turn to decide.
In a situation where communications were down, would I move on my own without the Crown Prince's orders?
Or would I wait for the Crown Prince's next move and observe the situation?
After brief deliberation, I made my decision.
'Just watching doesn't suit my temperament.'
I immediately moved Black Eagle to a hidden location within the Royal Palace.
In order to mobilize the reserve forces I'd stashed away just in case.
"Let's prepare for battle for now. Everyone return to your respective Heaven-Piercing Fortresses."
As people began to move at Marquis Hamington's orders, I stopped him.
If they scattered to their respective Heaven-Piercing Fortresses, subsequent responses would be difficult.
"Scattering would only make communication harder since we can't reach each other. It won't be too late to move once we've assessed the situation here in detail."
I proposed to Marquis Hamington.
"Instead, give me a chance."
"A chance?"
He tilted his head at my unexpected request amid everyone's confusion.
"I will re-infiltrate the Royal Palace with my elite subordinates."
At that, Marquis Hamington's eyes went wide in surprise, then he began to ponder.
Because common sense dictated that there was no need for me, the deputy commander, to leave my post.
"You seem to have forgotten, but I am no ordinary Mage. I'm a Battle Mage whose combat power doesn't lag behind even Aura Master-class Vanguards. Moreover, I'm also a Grand Mage, so if something has happened to His Highness, there's no better Support force than me."
The statement 'Something might have happened to the Second Prince' heightened everyone's anxiety.
In response, the nobles of the Second Prince's faction, now in disarray, spoke to Marquis Hamington, who was still hesitating despite having no other choice.
"Accept Marquis Lawrence's sincere offer to personally risk himself."
"That's right. Marquis Lawrence possesses close-combat ability that doesn't lose to Aura Masters and the traits of a Grand Mage he's the best card we can play in an emergency."
"Send him."
Driven by the nobles' urging, Commander Marquis Hamington had no choice but to yield.
"I'll attach our finest Knights to you."
"No. Subordinates I'm familiar with are better."
"Is that so?"
"Three should suffice. I trust it's acceptable to summon them to the command center."
After all, there were Grand Mages and Vanguards aplenty here, so no one questioned summoning just three Knights.
"Fine. I'll personally issue the operation orders."
"Then please temporarily disable the teleport jamming spell."
"Understood."
I used teleport to send back one administrator who had come along as my Adjutant to a Heaven-Piercing Fortress under Marquis Lawrence's domain.
It looked as though I'd sent him to fetch them personally since communications were down, but in the end, it was a fake-out.
The three Knights I'd mentioned referred to people hidden within the Royal Palace, and they had already made contact with Black Eagle and received my instructions.
-Whoosh!
Moments later, the Knights appeared with a spatial shift effect.
Three Knights equipped with Vanguard gear produced not by our Lawrence Mage Tower, but by the Rhinehearts Royal Magic Tower.
They were, in fact, three Aura Masters on loan from the Prius Republic.
"They're not of our Rhinehearts people? Are these ones recruited from foreign lands?"
I let out a hollow laugh at Marquis Hamington's question.
I didn't take this old man for this, but he seems to have a surprisingly naive side.
"Marquis of Ereiven, Marquis Caskbell, Count Brooks whereabouts are you?"
"Huh? Over here?"
"Here."
"Found them?"
Everyone looked puzzled at me ignoring Marquis Hamington's question to search for the three, and with a most delighted expression, I ordered the Aura Masters of the Prius Republic.
"Let's start by killing those three first."
"Yes!"
The figures of the three who had volunteered as my Knights blurred.
"Wh-What?"
"Ghk!"
"Aaargh!"
As the screams of Marquis of Ereiven, Marquis Caskbell, and Count Brooks rang out simultaneously, the command center fell dead silent.
Draping my arm over the shoulder of Marquis Hamington, the commander, I spat out a famous line from Earth.
"You're already dead."